The first incarnation of the series premiered on December 15, 1995. The pilot was only a few minutes long and was significantly darker than the series would become in that the plot revolved around Chicken smoking cigarettes and getting tortured by the devil (later to be renamed I. B. Red Guy) for doing so. Based on this pilot, the series was picked up in 1997 for a full series produced by the newly changed Hanna-Barbara Productions.

The series plot is simple enough. A brother and sister, Chicken and Cow respectively, get into trouble in their suburban neighborhood. The series was the third to be picked up by Cartoon Network and was critically acclaimed enough to land a primetime Emmy nomination in 1998. The series was finally ended in August 13, 1999 after producing a spinoff starring sidestory star, I Am Weasel.